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Gary Piper Author of the Glory Seed Garden Devotional Obituary

I read this news today, as I’m sure did many, with a profound sense of loss and sadness. Gary will always be for me an exemplary, faith-filled disciple who believed deeply and through those beliefs ascribed in words and deeds, he blessed others abundantly. Through the difficult times (and there were so many as he struggled with his serious illness) as well as easier days, he was ever the same in declaring his trust in God and his assurance of God’s love for him. . . . and for every last one of us. And, he declared all those easy or difficult times “good times”…”God times!”

We don’t all know each other in this community which Gary reached out to day after day after week after month after year, but he generously invited us into his community and in some way we’ve all belonged to him and each other. Even on the days that I didn’t read his entry I knew that there for the taking, there for my nourishment, there for anyone who needed or wanted them, were wonderful words of life:

Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.

I wanted to make sure this got out to Gary’s readers. It saddens me to think we have lost a friend and such a supportive person, but he is where his true home is and I have to think that is where his heart truly belongs along side God. There is no way to say he is in a better place that will comfort those that lost him without sounding cliché and hearts will be broken over this loss. Gary was there to take over things for me when I was no longer able to keep up with NSMinistries.com and will be missed by the readers there as well. Please pray for his family and friends for the comfort they will need.

Gary Gene Piper, 71, of Fort Gratiot, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 26, 2018.

He was born June 15, 1946 in Yale to the late Harley and Dorothy Piper. He married Patricia Booth on March 9, 1968 in Fort Gratiot.

Mr. Piper was employed with Mueller Brass Company for nearly 42 years. He was an evangelist with the Community of Christ Richmond Congregation and the author and creator of Glory Seeds Devotionals. Gary served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and was a member of V.F.W. Charles Schoor Post #796. He was a former member of the Fort Gratiot Township Fire Department and was named Fireman of the Year in 1976.

He is survived by his wife, Patti; two sons, Troy (Patricia) Piper and Aaron Piper; two grandchildren, Ethan Fike and Dylan Piper; two great grandchildren, Colton and Oliver Fike; four siblings, Alan (Susan) Piper, Diane Brown, Randy Piper and Billy D. Piper (Barbara Atkins); a brother-in-law, Robert M. (Susan) Lambert; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two nieces, Jodi Piper and Cara Lambert.

Visitation will be 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday in Pollock-Randall Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 in Wadhams Grove Community of Christ. Gary’s son, Pastor Troy Piper, will officiate.

Burial will be in Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly. Military honors will be conducted by the U.S. Navy and the St. Clair County Allied Veterans Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Community of Christ, Richmond, or V.F.W. Charles Schoor Post #796. To send condolences, visit www.pollockrandall.com